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Is Mark Martin Going to Be Derailed by Changes to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Team?

by Matt Mercer, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I'm the former blogger of The Catfish Show NASCAR Blog and a contributor to On Pit Row. Follow me on Twitter: @mattmercer

May 28, 2009 7:12 pm CDT 8 Comments

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As I was reading a story this afternoon on what new Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief Lance McGrew plans for the #88 team, I started worrying about the chances of Mark Martin’s title run this year. McGrew says that among the first items to be evaluated is the #88 team’s relationship with that of their shop-mate, the #5 team. McGrew says that they aren’t a unified outfit because they were two entities brought together, unlike the #24 and #48 teams. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the #5 and #25 teams were together since what, 2002 when Hendrick added a 4th car? The teams have been there, with mixed success, since the days of Terry Labonte/Kyle Busch in the #5 and Joe Nemechek/Brian Vickers/Casey Mears in the #25. McGrew was even a big part of that #25 team, serving as crew chief for Vickers in that time. I have to wonder why McGrew seems to fault the new combination of Martin and crew chief Alan Gustafson in the #5 for being successful. Maybe I’m reading the story wrong, but that’s how it looks.

My main concern here is that Martin’s team has been very successful with fast cars nearly ever week of the year while Earnhardt Jr. and his team haven’t adjusted their equipment to meet the demands of 2009 yet. It’s no guarantee the change will work the first time around. Is McGrew implying that he wants to change the way Gustafson is running the #5 team? This quote scares me:

“Basically, the crew chiefs have to steer the ship. If you want [the 5/88] building to perform and function with the 24/48 shop does, it has to be managed like the 24/48 shop is. The crew chiefs steer the ship there. I feel like you have to do that in unison, because the idea is to have two teams in one building that operate as one. Those [24 and 48] teams do that. Right now that’s not happening [in the 5 and 88 shop].”

Right. Because it’s the #5 team’s responsibility for the #88 not using the notes and setups the #5, #24, and #48 do. McGrew is right about this part: ideally, both teams in the shop should operate as one. It seems that the #88 team led by Tony Eury Jr. was willing to break away from that and do things their own way.

All I’m saying is, this could easily drag down Martin during the rest of the 2009 season. If McGrew wants to change the #5 team’s method (which is clearly working) it could derail Martin’s title hopes this season. I do not want that to happen and I suspect that even Dale Jr. himself wouldn’t want that to happen. Hendrick needs to be careful he isn’t tearing down the strong to build up the weak.

Photo credit: Sports Illustrated

Filed under: Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin, NASCAR

Tagged with: Alan Gustafson, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Lance McGrew, Mark Martin, NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup Series, Terry Labonte, Tony Eury Jr

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Ryan Newman is Loose in Turn 3

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

July 18, 2008 9:40 am CDT 7 Comments

Ryan Newman is on the loose. From team Penske, at least. Everyone seems to think they know where he’s going. But so far, the Rocketman has kept mum.

You would think that, with the Sprint Cup Series off this weekend, some of this silly season stuff would settle out. But that probably makes too much sense.

The Bench Racing blog’s slice of the Loose in Turn 3 pie has to do with Newman’s seat in the #12 Alltel Dodge.

Who is your choice as the next driver at Penske Racing?

Charlie: I’ve read and heard the Juan Pablo Montoya speculation. I heard months ago, that Martin Truex Jr was headed to Penske, and a fourth car there, along with his Bass Pro Shops sponsor. For sponsors, those deals make sense. But the #12 already has Alltel. I think that Casey Mears is the better teammate for “the franchise”, which is still Kurt Busch. The Mears name and Penske go way back. This could be the perfect place for the talented Casey to flourish.

Bruce: After the Sam Hornish debacle, and that’s what I think it is, they need to make sure that they get themselves a good talent, and they need to put more into that No. 12 team than it’s been getting. It’s got an odd history of mediocre performance. Mears is a great emotional choice, but if you look at the business side of things, Juan Pablo Montoya would be a great addition to the team. He’s got the experience that Hornish can lean on and Penske and toy the guys with rides in “other” series.

TZ: The idea of Montoya being a candidate for the 12 car is news to me, but I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked considering the interest he showed when they announced Mears’ departure from Hendrick. But, really, I think Penske comes out of this Silly Season as the biggest loser. They’re not going to field a fourth car next year because they can’t even get any of the three that they already have into the Chase, so they’d just be creating a formula to wind up just like Ganassi. David Stremme gets the 12 car, end of story.

That’s what we think. What do you think? Leave you feedback in the comments section of this post.

Then go to TZ’s DoYouNascar and weigh in on this topic….

What are the realistic expectations for the newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009?

Then cruise over to Bruce’s NASCAR Bits for this one…

Do you think with the purchase of the Budweiser maker, Anheuser-Busch by InBev will have any sort of impact on the sponsorship of NASCAR teams and events?

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Casey Mears, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Haas CNC Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, Penske Racing, Ryan Newman, Sam Hornish Jr, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart, Top 35 Rule, Turn 2 posts

Tagged with: blog motorsports, Budeiser, Casey Mears, InBev, Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR, Penske Racing, Ryan Newman, Stewart Haas Racing, Tony Stewart

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Look for a development driver to win Saturday’s Pocono 200

by Matt Mercer, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I'm the former blogger of The Catfish Show NASCAR Blog and a contributor to On Pit Row. Follow me on Twitter: @mattmercer

June 5, 2008 2:25 pm CDT 5 Comments

The ARCA/ReMax Series will head to Long Pond, PA this weekend to team up with the Sprint Cup Series, and with the Trucks in Texas and Nationwide Series in Nashville, this could be the spot in which someone impresses the right person and moves up through the ranks. This race has been dominated by either Cup rookies moving down to get track experience, or a hotshoe from a Cup team gaining experience for a future foray into the series.

Since 2003, Cup drivers or Cup development drivers have won 8 of the 10 races at Pocono. These drivers include Casey Mears twice, Scott Riggs, Ryan Hemphill, Travis Kvapil, Chase Miller, Chad McCumbee, and Michael McDowell. Only the series’ great one, Frank Kimmel, broke the streak, taking the July races in 2005 and 2006. Also competing in these races have been drivers such as Kyle Busch, David Reutimann, and David Ragan. Previous polesitters have included Mears, Riggs, and Kvapil, as well as David Stremme.

As for the 2008 edition, there is no shortage of candidates to win. This season has been an exciting one in the series, as young drivers have come in and performed exceedingly well. Current points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr., second-place Matt Carter, and sixth-place Scott Speed have all won this year. Speed also won the Truck race at Dover, and will compete in Friday night’s Truck race. Still, there are others who will pose a threat. You can’t discount Kimmel, who still maintains a top points position despite working on a shoestring budget with his own team. He could use a win, and it could come as soon as this very weekend.

One thing is for sure, the ARCA/ReMax Series is entertaining again, and this race fan is more than happy to see the return of its glory days.

Photo credit: AP

Filed under: ARCA Remax Series, Casey Mears, Craftsman Truck Series, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Eddie Sharp Racing, Frank Kimmel, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Scott Speed, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: ARCA, arca/remax series, Casey Mears, chad mccumbee, Frank Kimmel, Kyle Busch, matt carter, michael mcdowell, Nationwide, Pocono, ricky stenhouse jr., Scott Speed, Sprint Cup, Travis Kvapil, trucks

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Even Monsters get Loose in Turn 3

by Charlie Turner

May 30, 2008 9:22 am CDT 2 Comments

With fifty laps to go in the Coca Cola 600 I was mentally writing a headline about the start of summer finally arriving with Tony Stewart’s big win. Not to be. Instead Kasey Kahne won NASCAR’s longest race. And Dale Earnhardt Jr became the poster boy for Looseness in Turn Three.

This week, TZ from Do You NASCAR and Bruce of NASCAR Bits and Pieces and the guys at Bench Racing will thrash on three racing related topics. Here’s mine.

Why can’t Junior finish?

Charlie: When is Tony Eury Jr going to have a come to Jesus meeting with his driver
and tell him to quit running every lap two inches from the turn four wall?
Earnhardt is the only driver who runs every track and every lap of every race, in
the highest line there is. It works for him, I know. He’s been fast everywhere
this season. But he has hit the wall in more races than not. It seems to me that
his crew chief should be talking him down off that wall later in the race. It
probably wouldn’t work. Listening to Junior on the radio does not give me the
feeling that he listens to much of anything. He tells - commands. It might be time
for a change in tactics.

TZ: I think you have to start with Dale Junior’s relationship with Tony Eury Jr.
More often than not, I, too, find Earnhardt to be a bit overly demanding - and, not
very understanding - over his team radio, but I think that most people probably tend
to be a little more short-tempered when dealing with family at times. I think that
Junior probably doesn’t do the best job of translating what’s going on with the car
in the manner so that Eury can understand it, and as a result, they tend to let the
track start getting away from them near the ends of the races. And, yes … there
are times when he’d probably be a bit better off finding different grooves in the
track.

Bruce: The team is not used to finishing.. Not used to getting out there up front
now that they seem to have more consistent, improved equipment. I get the high
groove and yes, they should try different lines, but if it works it works.. the
high groove will give you more gear coming out of the corners and saves tires a bit
in the long run, but I’m not sure it’s worth it all the time like he does.. At least
he’s closer to the wall when a tire blows and then again, maybe he’s got some
lingering issues from past hits and he has a reason? Bet we won’t see the high
groove at Dover! And you’re right guys, he snaps / commands the crew when he needs
to be listening too… at least it seems that way.

That’s what we think. What do you think?

You should check out Tim’s post and discussion…

Should the no. 20 team have called for two right-side tires on Tony Stewart’s
next-to-last stop at the Coca Cola 600?

And Bruce’s question this week…

My question is whether drivers should get over the idea of people moving over for them because they think they’re faster than they are?

There’s good stuff there. We welcome your input.

Filed under: Casey Mears, Chip Ganassi Racing, Clint Boyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Ragan, David Reutimann, Haas CNC Racing, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Red Bull Racing, Reed Sorenson, Richard Childress Racing, Robert Yates Racing, Sprint Cup Series, Turn 2 posts

Tagged with: blog, Casey Mears, Chad Knaus, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, JimmyJohnson, motorsports, NASCAR

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Four NASCAR drivers you think should win, but don’t

by Charlie Turner

March 21, 2008 2:23 pm CDT 6 Comments

The pressure is off for NASCAR fantasy players this week. If you participate in a Sprint Cup Series fantasy game, you get an extra week to figure out your best picks to win your NASCAR fantasy league since the Cup Series is on Easter break.

Perhaps now is the time to plot your ultimate winning strategy. Or line up your latest wild ass guesses, which is what I’m planning to do. For me, putting too much thought into this whole thing hurts my head. But that doesn’t stop me. In fact it got me to thinking about why certain drivers - having all of the requisite tools and pedigree - just can’t close the deal. At least not as often as it seems they should.

Of the current crop of Cup competitors, Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray are the two that jump out at me. Both drivers are approaching 200 starts in Cup rides ranging from pretty good to top-shelf.

McMurray won in his second start ever after taking over for an injured Sterling Marlin- who could very well make this list too - and then went win-less, through the rest of his Ganassi career and high profile drives for Roush Racing, until 2007’s summer Daytona race.

Mears broke the ice last year with his first win, but had nothing to show for his Ganassi seat time and, I’m betting, not enough to keep the Hendrick franchise happy much longer.

Those are winning percentages along the lines of .5 to 1%. If that criteria is followed, I hate it but I have to put Kyle Petty in here too. Eight wins in 819 starts makes winning a rare enough occurrence for someone who, at times has been in top equipment. Sorry Kyle, it just seems like you should have been first more than this.

Picking four was tougher that I thought it would be. I keep wanting to go back to New Zealander and 60’s-70’s F1 driver Chris Amon. Amon drove for the best teams and was acknowledged by peers and journalist’s alike as one of the best for more than a decade. But he never won a race. If I pick him, I’ll never hear the end of it from Steve - who thinks I live totally in the past - or Marc, who actually does.

No, unfortunately I’ll have to call recent ON PIT ROW guest and genuine good guy, Jeremy Mayfield out as my fourth enigma. Big contracts with top teams (allegedly at least) Penske Racing and Evernham Motorsports produced just 5 wins in 425 Cup starts. Mayfield did qualify for the Chase a couple times though, which ought to count for something.

Luke has an interesting take at the Thunder Lounge on the current crop of Rookie of the Year candidates, and how NASCAR’s goofy qualifying rules can screw with that race. I just wonder if any of the four ROY favorites will make a list like mine in five or ten years.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Casey Mears, Chip Ganassi Racing, Evernham Motorsports, Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Jeremy Mayfield, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Roush Racing, Sprint Cup Series, The Pettys

Tagged with: blog, Casey Mears, Evernham Motorsports, fantasy racing picks, Ganassi Racing, Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield, Kyle Petty, motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR fantasy racing, Sprint Cup Series

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Whatta ya mean my motor’s broke? I’m on the dang pole

by Charlie Turner

February 14, 2008 12:03 am CST 2 Comments

It’s a good thing that the best brains in NASCAR discovered they had an engine issue before the races. Word is, a coating on a batch of lifters used by Hendrick Motorsports’ engine builders - and other motor shops too - is failing and the failure would have been fatal.

According to Lowes #48 team crew chief Chad Knaus, there’s no way the faulty power plants would have survived 150 miles. Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr all were forced to change engines, sending them to the back of the grid to start the Dual Daytona 500 qualifiying races.

The bad parts infected the Toyota of Dale Jarrett, Scott Riggs’ Haas CNC Chevy and probably others too.

As a blogger, I kind of wish they hadn’t found the problem. There would have been some great posting opportunities in the aftermath. Just think of the possibilities.